It certainly makes sense for the UFC to head back into the Asian market at this stage, with there clearly being a gap in the market now that Sengoku has folded and with DREAM struggling to stay afloat.

The UFC have already capitalized on that fact by picking up some key Japanese fighters such as Hatsu Hioki, ‘Kid Yamamoto’, Takanori Gomi and Michihiro Omigawa to go alongside already established UFC stars like Yushin Okami and Yoshihiro Akiyama.

If they are able to replicate what they have done with the upcoming sold-out UFC: Rio event, blending local favorites and big name foreign stars, then they could well make a big impression in another mecca of martial arts.

Ross launched MMA Insight (previously FightOfTheNight.com) in 2009 as a way to channel his passion for the sport of mixed martial arts. He's since penned countless news stories and live fight reports along with dozens of feature articles as the lead writer for the site, reaching millions of fans in the process.

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MMA Insight is dedicated to bringing you the best in Mixed Martial Arts coverage with a particular focus on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Along with covering the latest news stories and event results from the world of MMA on a daily basis, the main focus of the site is to provide quality, in-depth articles, insight and opinion on the major talking points in this ever evolving sport.